Blast-pressure measurement with a high-bandwidth fibre optic pressure sensor

• Published in: Measurement science & technology Vol. 11; no. 2; pp. 95 - 102
• Main Authors: MacPherson, W N, Gander, M J, Barton, J S, Jones, J D C, Owen, C L, Watson, A J, Allen, R M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.02.2000; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: Compressible flows; shock and detonation phenomena; Exact sciences and technology; Fiber-optic instruments; Fluid dynamics; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); General equipment and techniques; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Optical instruments, equipment and techniques; Physics; Sensors (chemical, optical, electrical, movement, gas, etc.); remote sensing; Pressure sensors; Optical fibers; Explosive forming; Pressure measurement; Air blowing; Experimental study; Blast effects
• ISSN: 0957-0233; 1361-6501
• DOI: 10.1088/0957-0233/11/2/302

A sensor to measure rapidly changing pressures in an explosive air blast requires high bandwidth and high spatial resolution. For such an application, a low-cost, electrically isolated sensor is particularly attractive. Describes an optical fibre-based pressure sensor that meets these requirements. The sensor is subjected to an experimental explosive blast measurement test. The results are discussed with respect to the sensor performance and compared with a simple blast wave model and conventional pressure transducers. (Original abstract)